12/10/2005

Cattle from Europe are shipped alive to the Middle East, enduring a stressful ten-day sea journey. When they arrive, the exhausted animals are slaughtered inhumanely, dying a slow and painful death without pre-stunning.

We taxpayers are subsidising this abhorrent trade to the tune of £41m a year. For every animal maltreated in this way, we are paying the cattle dealer (not the farmer) £120.

May I suggest that any reader who objects, as I do, to spending our taxes on cruelty to animals, can support the campaign run by Compassion in World Farming.

The leading farm animal welfare organisation, based in Petersfield, Hampshire, is calling for an end to this abuse of animals and misapplication of our taxes.

Instead of subsidising live exports, we should replace the trade with carcasses slaughtered humanely in the country of origin.

To stop the EU from squandering our taxes on this cruelty, ring Compassion in World Farming on (01730) 264308.

Our taxes are desperately needed for many good purposes. Cruelty to farm animals isn't one of them. - C Tweddle, York.

LITTER SHOCK

I WORK in Darlington and, on a lunch break, sometimes spend time sitting on the seats adjacent to High Row reading or just watching the world go by.

Last week three girls about 16-18-years old sat on the seat next to me eating their lunches from the inevitable polystyrene containers.

I never took much notice until they decided to leave and one of them decided the litter bins provided were too far away and proceeded to throw her empty can and container to the ground.

I politely asked her if she would pick up the offending litter and place it in the bins provided.

She swore at me and gave me a stare which, if I had used in the Falklands, the enemy would have run away.

However, give the little angel her due, she picked up the offending litter and took it to the bin.

Just about every day you see these seats strewn with the litter of inconsiderate people and, if a community warden was to patrol that area over the lunch period, the council would make a fortune with on-the-spot fines. - R Vincent, Darlington.

NORTH-EAST ASSEMBLY

TORY Jim Tague accuses local councillors of breaking the law by 'unlawful diversion of public funds' (HAS, Sept 26). This is a disgraceful accusation and totally untrue.

What law has been broken? As for public funds being 'diverted', the indirectly-elected assembly does not 'divert' any funds anywhere.

The assembly is funded mainly by government grant, plus a small subscription from the North-East's local councils, all 25 of whom elect members to the assembly.

Every local council subscribes to a large number of other bodies, and the assembly is no different in this regard. The region's town and parish councils are also represented, as are business organisations, trade unions, churches and others. There are 73 members, all unpaid, including several Tories and 21 who are not councillors. The assembly is the only body that represents the whole of the region - truly the voice of the North-East.

The assembly is not a quango in that its members are not appointed by government, but are elected by its various partner organisations. There are, in fact, over 100 full blown quangos in the region, with around 1,500 members. All of these 1,500 quangocrats are appointed by government and none are accountable to the public. Many are paid substantial amounts, in contrast with assembly members who are unpaid, other than travel expenses and occasionally meals on submission of receipts.

The assembly is one of our smallest regional bodies, with just 18 paid staff. All the assembly's proceedings are open to public and press. The assembly is wholly lawful in that it has been set up under laws passed by our Parliament.

Jim Tague is perfectly entitled to campaign for its abolition, but he should do so by seeking a change in the law. The voluntary members' only 'crime' is a willingness to give their time free to serve the public. - Councillor Chris Foote-Wood, Lib Dem Group Leader and Assembly Vice Chair (minority parties).

HMS CALLIOPE

I SEE (Echo, Oct 5) that the general director of the Sage Gateshead has criticised the future plans for the Tyne Royal Navy Reserve centre, HMS Calliope, and feels that it should be removed from the earth's surface.

HMS Calliope has been both on and alongside the Tyne for a very long time. Its crew have served both community and country with distinction.

The present building is not meant to be pretty, but practical, and nobody in their right mind could call The Sage, Gateshead, aka the silver snail or silver painted dog, a thing of beauty.

So please Mr Sargent, confine your energies to making The Sage a profitable venture, bearing in mind the millions it cost the taxpayer, and leave our local naval base to carry on serving at a lot less cost than the Sage has and will in the future, no doubt. - Ron Young, Thornaby.

SKY BOWL

I NOTE that there have been many more letters against the siting of the Sky Bowl than in favour of it.

How can Ken Manton, leader of Durham County Council, call this 'very encouraging support'?

Everyone I speak to calls it a ridiculous waste of money - and why is the projected cost still undisclosed?

We have a right to know if public funds are to be used - with school buildings crumbling and class sizes rising, we could do much with the large sums presumably involved.

The view of Durham Cathedral needs no enhancement at all; the very idea is an insult. Now is the time for those of us who object to join Keith Hutchinson (HAS, Aug 17) and other correspondents to make it clear we do not want this anywhere in Durham City. - Mary R Hawgood, City of Durham Council (LibDem).

PLIGHT OF ELDERLY

I WONDER if any thought has been given to the retraining of guide dogs when planning all the changes to Darlington town centre. They must be utterly confused.

Has anyone responsible for the current chaotic bus situation considered the elderly and the effort now required to walk to and from the new bus stops, market, banks and shops? Slopes they never noticed in their youth have now become hills - walking, balance and stamina are major problems for the elderly.

The people of Darlington in general do not want pedestrianisation. There has been insufficient consultation, and no heed taken of petitions all giving a resounding 'no' to this disastrous project.

The town centre is dead, shops stand empty and the indoor market is deserted. Previously successful trades people are struggling, visitors to the town are dwindling and will be difficult to attract back.

Surely it is not too late for councillors and officers to call a halt for an assessment and consultation on this sensitive scheme with a view to eliminating some causes of the present chaos? - E Robinson, Darlington.